<p>another annoying one: loss of plural “s” after “st”
<em>Members and guest only</em> (only one guest allowed?)
<em>Finalist win prizes</em></p>
<p>I’m with Coureur on “gender” too. I think it’s a euphemism. I cringe when I see “Gender Studies” in college catalogues (are these language classes?), but I can see where “Sex Studies” might not work.</p>
<p>I’m with you guys on gender too. But, I have to say that the current usage note in my AHD makes sense:
I think the distinction between biological and cultural references to sex works, even for grammar nazis.</p>
<p>Anthropologists–I’m reading a Barbara Pym novel right now, where anthropologists’ language is hilariously ridiculed. Still prefer “sex roles” to “gender roles,” but I grudgingly accept the AHD comment.</p>
<p>
Hey, we have a living, breathing lexicon, just like our Constitution. “Sex roles” may now involve costumes and the like. ;)</p>
<p>Since there are clearly people of both genders (masculine and feminine) to be found in both sexes (male and female), I think that the term “gender roles” would proper provided that a given gender role could theoretically apply equally to members of either sex. I.e. if say a “feminine gender role” is one that is performed by feminine people who can be of either biological sex. Thus, “feminine gender role” would not be a synonym for “women’s role”, since women are biologically female (but not necessarily feminine). </p>
<p>Alas, this is not how the term is being used. Gender role is being conflated with sex role, so a “feminine gender role” has become a fancy way of saying “women’s work”.</p>
<p>Is “went missing” really a proper phrase? e.g. “The man went missing last Sunday…” I’ve been hearing that a lot, and it just sounds… wrong!</p>
<p>ok …who here in this thread went to Catholic school???</p>
<p>Not me. Why?</p>
<p>My mom says that nobody in public school is taught proper grammar and usage any more…because the teachers don’t know proper grammar and usage…only the nuns really teach grammar. …and penmanship…</p>
<p>I go to private school, but my grammar is self-taught. I have weird interests.</p>
<p>“went missing” is an idiomatic construction. </p>
<p>At least it’s more comprehensible than “I was stood up.”</p>
<p>TheDad - I agree, now that I think about it. It seems there are a lot of phrases that really make no sense literally. Many seem very regional. Since being “down South”, I’ve been hearing folk say, “I’ll get up with you” to mean they’ll call you (I’m guessing just based on context!)</p>
<p>Sorry, all - Just noticed I took this topic off track - Wasn’t meant to discuss idiomatic expressions!</p>
<p>I’m not familiar with “get up with you.” Now “hit upside the head” is a different matter.</p>
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<p>I abhor the use of ‘misunderestimate.’ It is not even a word, and common-sense provides sufficient guidance: ‘mis’ is redundant since to ‘underestimate’ is to render a mistaken estimation.</p>
<p>I just read through 7 pages, looking for my favorite, and didn’t find it: “different than” instead of “different from.”</p>
<p>(But I’m very nervous even typing in this thread…)</p>
<p>
<em>raises hands, snaps fingers and hisses “S’ster, s’ster” (or at least would have done so if a boy)</em></p>
<p>And we diagrammed sentences! Oh, what a great activity. Totally lost art, I believe.</p>
<p>I am jumping in on page seven without reading the previous 7 pages, so please forgive me if this sentiment has already been expressed, but I object to using the word “Nazi” with anything so mundane as grammer or spelling (or soup, but that was a stupid TV show). How bout grammar tyrants? or “English teachers”. :)</p>
<p>seven pages of form over substance. Form wins in a landslide.</p>